About to place an offer on a leasehold apartment in South Kensington. The property agents advise that it is normal for flats in South Kensington to have less than 75 years remaining. I am taking out a mortgage with Accord Mortgages. Will the property be mortgageable given that the lease has 69 years to go.

Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are obtaining a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Accord Mortgages have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 16/8/2025 the requirements read as follows :

Is it necessary to pay for insurance to address the risk of chancel repairs when purchasing a property in South Kensington?

Unless a previous acquisition of the property took place after 12 October 2013 you could expect conveyancing practitioners handling conveyancing in South Kensington to continue to propose a a chancel search and or insurance against a claim.

I am purchasing a new build house in South Kensington benefiting from help to buy. The developers refused to move on the amount so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of additionals instead. The sale representative advised me not inform my lawyer about this side-deal as it could adversely affect my loan with the bank. Is this normal?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the builder of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

I am attracted to a couple of flats in South Kensington both have approximately fifty years unexpired on the leases. Do I need to be concerned?

A lease is a right to use the property for a period of time. As a lease shortens the saleability of the lease reduces and results in it becoming more expensive to extend the lease. This is why it is advisable to extend the lease term. Sometimes it is difficulties arise selling premises with a short lease as mortgage companies less inclined to grant a loan on such properties. Lease enfranchisement can be a difficult process. We advise that you get professional assistance from a solicitor and surveyor with experience in this field.

I have tried to negotiate informally with with my landlord for a lease extension without any joy. Can a leaseholder apply to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal? Can you recommend a South Kensington conveyancing firm to act on my behalf?

Absolutely. We can put you in touch with a South Kensington conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a South Kensington flat is Flat 16 21/22 Stanhope Gardens in November 2010. the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal concluded that the premium to be paid by the tenant on the grant of a new lease, in accordance with section 56 and Schedule 13 of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993, was £106,975 This case was in relation to 1 flat. The unexpired term as at the valuation date was 51.93 years.

I need to swap lawyers as my South Kensington lawyer is not on the bank's panel of conveyancing solicitors. How simple is it to change conveyancer?

If you haven't yet appointed a solicitor to start work and have just received quotes, you're perfectly free to choose a different solicitor to carry out your work for you. The best way is to get recommendations from friends or family who have actually used the solicitor or conveyancer in South Kensington that you're thinking of instructing.